Netherfield Estate, after the Assembly

Caroline Bingley languidly walked the length of the drawing room, before stopping by her sister, and settling next to her on the sofa. Mr. Darcy sat upright in a single armchair next to the fire, while Charles stood, absentmindedly rearranging the coals with the long, iron poker. Louisa's husband, Mr. Hurst was already stretched out on the other sofa, sound asleep, his glass of port settled preciously by his feet. Although knowing the oafish drunk, the last thing in the world he would do was knock over a full glass of alcohol.

Caroline studied Mr. Darcy closely for a few minutes, glad to see that his face was no longer closed off and more relaxed than it had been at the horrid Assembly of the backwards town that her brother had decreed would be his estate.

Mr. Darcy had only arrived late the night before, so she had little time to speak to him, nor learn his habits. Caroline had insured that Charles would keep London's hours while they were residing in Netherfield, a feat that was not entirely difficult as her brother was not an early riser at all, but she did not know whether or not Mr. Darcy did so on his estate, Pemberley. Although in the few years that she had known him, he had spent a significant amount of time in Town with her brother, leaving only to attend to his sister, dear Georgiana, while she was at school and on holiday, as well as returning to his grand estate to oversee the yearly harvest.

Seeing Mr. Darcy arising to pour himself a glass of brandy, Caroline readily stood and trailed after him, intent on fortifying herself with a small glass of the wine that was seated among the brandy and port bottles. Watching Mr. Darcy return to his chair, glass in hand, she sipped at her wine, before deciding she was ready to speak. To tease.

"So, Mr. Darcy, how did you enjoy the little country ball? We shall not bother to ask Charles, I think, we all know how well his evening turned out." she said impishly, referring to the meeting of the eldest Bennet girl, Jane.

"And let me inform you, Mr. Darcy, that you had the great privilege of meeting the great Hertfordshire beauties, the Bennet girls. As well as the master of one of the most prominent families in the Hertfordshire-Meryton area, Mr. Collins."

Mr. Darcy turned to her, with an expression that said he was not impressed with anything that had occurred that evening, and stated absentmindedly, "I saw very little beauty, and even less intelligence, Caroline. This town is rather full of vulgarity and gossip, so by my reckoning, the most prominent family must be the one who is able to spread the gossip first, and in that the Bennet family is beaten. I would say the Lucas family out lengthens them by more than a breadth. Although their deficiency in that area is more than made up for in the fact that I am sure the master of Longbourn creates as much gossip as there is to disperse to the townspeople."

Caroline gave a high titter, that ended in a sharp, ugly laugh, adding to her agreement of the estimable Mr. Darcy's statement, with Louisa echoing her, with a "Hear, hear, Mr. Darcy! I quite agree.", remembering the way the Bennet chit, Miss Eliza had spoken to her.

Charles, of course, had to defend the virtues of his new pets, the Bennets, "Come Darcy, there were several pretty girls at the ball, especially the eldest Miss Bennets! Even the youngest one, Miss Mary, does not fade into the background of her sisters. And they were indeed pleasant and well mannered girls. It is hardly their fault that Mr. Collins is now their head of household. Especially when you take into account what has happened to their family, their father. It is a significant upheaval, Caroline, and the Bennet ladies bear it remarkably well."

At this, Caroline watched as Mr. Darcy glanced inquiringly at Charles, confusion and interest evident in his face. "Charles, did you not tell Mr. Darcy of the infamous Bennet's, and your visit with the ever loquacious, Mr. Collins?" Caroline inquired.

Charles looked back to Mr. Darcy, "I sent you a letter telling you of my visit, did you not receive it?" Caroline watched with pleasure as Mr. Darcy gave a low laugh, his eyes filled with mirth as he acknowledged, "Yes, I did but could not read one jot of it. I thought I could read your handwriting tolerably well, but you must have been in a hurry when you wrote it-or in a carriage."

Charles flushed a dull red, as Caroline and Louisa crowed their agreement, for Charles' handwriting really was not fit for the master of an estate. Only for a few minutes, for Caroline had to catch Mr. Darcy up on the local gossip.

"Well, Mr. Darcy," Caroline began, "this is probably the most exciting thing to happen in Meryton, you must understand. I have been informed of it by almost every neighbor who called on Netherfield in the past fortnight. Apparently sometime last year or so, the eldest Miss Bennet and her father were involved in a carriage accident, on her birthday, how intolerable!" she added with an exclamation of sympathy, "Mr. Bennet is currently in a coma from the accident and is being cared for in his home. The current Master of Longbourn, Mr. Collins arrived with his father some weeks after the accident. His father passed this last Yule, but not before implementing some much needed improvements to that family!" Caroline said triumphantly.

Charles studied her cautiously, "To what are you implying, dear sister of mine?" The Bennets seemed like a perfectly respectable family that had gone through a great deal of adversity in the past year, yet held together admirably. Caroline gave her brother an indecipherable smile.

"I understand, dear Charles. despite their foolishly behaved cousin, they seem to be the model of propriety. But, as I have been informed by several of our new neighbors, that propriety came after their father's accident. The mother was apparently a shrieking mama who delighted in informing her neighbors that her eldest daughter would make a match with a wealthy man, solely due to her beauty and want to better her family. The two youngest girls-a Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty-were shameless hoydens that flirted with anything contained within a red coat. At fourteen and fifteen, that!" Caroline added with a shocked tone.

"And Miss Eliza-well, it does not seem that the accident, nor subsequent change in the head of household has changed her temper very much." Caroline stated rather contemptuously, "Even from our brief meeting, it seems Miss Eliza has not quite learned to temper her tongue. It speaks of a conceited independence, truth be told."

Mr. Darcy looked away in disinterest, Caroline noted in satisfaction. Perhaps she could channel his disinterest in the local populace into convincing Charles to purchase an estate closer to Pemberley? However, Charles still could note hold his tongue, as he tried to defend the Bennets once again.

"Oh dear Lord, Charles, one is allowed to feel sorry for them, of course!" Caroline tempered her previous words, with a soothing tone. "However, I feel that the issue of the Bennets past conduct is something that Mr. Darcy should hear from his friends, not from a local busy body who would then spread his reaction throughout the town! Think of how Mr. Darcy and the Bennets would feel!"

Charles turned his head to his hands, "Of course, Caroline. But I hardly think it is appropriate conversation to begin with! The worst that one can accuse the Bennets of being was having a permissive father! Therefore, how they behaved in society before we arrived in Meryton has nothing to do with us. Beyond that, I think they have shown to have a great spirit during troubled times. Especially Miss Bennet-."

Caroline could not contain herself at that, nor could Louisa, as they each exchanged smirks and knowing looks.

" Poor, dear Jane Bennet. So lovely, it is such a pity she shall not be wed. I should hate to have something as awful as that happen to my person." she gave a faux shudder, her eyes gleaming in satisfaction as Charles turned his head away from her, and back to the coals.

Louisa tittered, as she turned to Caroline,

"Sister dear, you forgot the news between Miss Eliza and Mr. Collins!" Caroline's eyes lit up as she returned Louisa's titter with one of her own, before turning to Mr. Darcy, who had gone back to studying his hands with a serious mien dominating his features.

"I quite forgot to say, Mr. Darcy. The Bennet's estate is entailed upon Mr. Collins, however, as I stated before, their father has not yet passed on. Once he does, Longbourn will become the possession of Mr. Collins, and he shall be able turn the Bennets out as soon as he wishes. As I understand it, the Bennet girls will receive equal portions from their mother's dowry, which was about five thousand pounds. That is," Caroline stated with a small smile, "unless Miss Eliza does not marry Mr. Collins. Everyone in Meryton speaks of their de facto engagement. Once Mr. Bennet passes on, Mr. Collins and Miss Eliza shall be engaged, and marry once the time for mourning has passed. Perhaps even sooner, as I have been informed by Lady Lucas that no one would look down on Miss Eliza for marrying so soon after her father's death, to secure her sister's futures."

Mr. Darcy simply noted drolly, "How very kind of them."

Caroline and Louisa both tittered, agreeing with him. Beside them, Mr. Hurst abruptly woke up with a loud snort, muttering unintelligibly, as he picked up his glass, and tried to stand up. Caroline glanced at her sister with a look of barely disguised disgust; Louisa had no such qualms, as she went to ring the bell for a footman to assist Mr. Hurst to his rooms.

It was decided, then, that they would all retire for the night. Caroline followed her sister to her own set of rooms, settling herself at the vanity.

"Sister, what do you think of inviting the two eldest Bennets for a dinner in a week or so?"

Louisa glanced back at Caroline absently, as she removed her jewelry, "How so, Caroline?" Caroline gave herself a quick spritz of the perfume resting in front of her, inhaling the lovely fragrance. "Well, they are the closest thing we have to a prominent family in this backwater town. It is either they or that old maid, Charlotte Lucas. At least Jane Bennet is a lovely, sweet girl, unlike Miss Eliza."

"Poor dear," Louisa tutted, as she rung the bell for her maid to help her undress. Caroline swiftly locked her sister's jewelry in her box, before the maid should come. God knew what servants would try, if they thought they could get away with it, or the opportunity. It was best not to even give them the chance, as Caroline did not wish to constantly interview and hire new staff.

"We are in agreement then?" she asked. As Louisa nodded absently, Caroline spoke her thoughts aloud "Yes, well we may do so any time within the next week, really. I think Charles and Mr. Darcy have been invited to dine with the officers sometime afterwards, but it does not matter which day that shall come to pass."

Caroline thoughtfully fingered her own jewelry, as she went through the positives and negatives on such and such day, as when to invite the Bennet chits. Perhaps a day when Charles and Mr. Darcy were out shooting with Mr. Hurst, or dining with the officers, as Caroline and Louisa would have nothing else to do. Or perhaps with Charles and Mr. Darcy there… Caroline murmured "good night" to her sister, as she made her way to her own room, ready for bed.

Coming back from the assembly was no more exciting than going towards the assembly. At least not in the Bennet ladies eyes. Mrs. Bennet was silently pouting in the wake of their introduction to the charming, handsome, and very wealthy Mr. Bingley, and his guest, Mr. Darcy. Mary had no opinion, one way or another, as her habits during assemblies had not changed-however this time, she had Jane to accompany her at all times, as she sat, watching others dance. Jane was silent, neither her manner nor her actions betraying what she felt inside. Elizabeth could do nothing but hold her sister's hand, as always. Jane squeezed it gratefully, betraying how she felt in that single moment.

Mr. Collins was ecstatic, Elizabeth could tell, although he had not yet said a word. His first introduction with Mr. Bingley had been startlingly brief, as Mr. Bingley had been on his way back to Town, and had graciously extended him a few moment's time of conversation.

As the Bennet-Collins family removed themselves from their carriage, and entered Longbourn, Elizabeth made a move to go with Jane into the parlor. While it was very late, they all knew that Kitty and Lydia would still be waiting for them, anxiously awaiting their review of the night's assembly.

Mr. Collins called after her, "My dear!" Elizabeth stopped and turned. Dipping into a slight curtsey, she nodded to Mr. Collins, "Yes, sir?" she said.

Mr. Collins granted her a condescending smile, "I understand that you are eager to enjoy a visit with your sisters, before going to bed, but I feel that we should speak of your conduct tonight."

At Mr. Collins's words, Jane had silently went back to her sister's side, offering herself as support.

"Now run along, Miss Bennet." Mr. Collins said condescendingly to Jane. "Miss Lizzie and I have some things to discuss." Elizabeth gave her sister an encouraging smile, a smile she knew that Jane would be able to see through within an instant, and briefly, their hands touched. Jane gripped her fingers hard, and then let go, giving a nod to Mr. Collins, she joined her mother and sisters in the parlor.

Mr. Collins and Elizabeth were now alone in the front hall of Longbourn. Elizabeth brought her hands to herself, as she tried to settle the uneasiness she felt. At the very least, when his father had been alive, there had been some distance between them, as father and son spent several hours enclosed in her Papa's study, leaving the Bennet women to their new duties. Now it was only she and Mr. Collins, propriety holding what little distance remained. For now.

Elizabeth furrowed her brow in confusion, although she was sure she knew exactly what Mr. Collins was speaking of.

"To what do you refer, Mr. Collins?" Mr. Collins gave an exaggerated sigh, as he motioned for her come closer to him. Elizabeth obliged.

"Sir?" she questioned.

"My dear, I understand that you have moved within limited society while here in Meryton, and have not had the advantages that I have had during my studies with the cleric in London. I understand," he said in an affable tone, licking his lips noisily, as he eyed her, "but you must learn to hold your tongue, my dear. I enjoy your spirited and witty conversation within the comfort of our home, as did our dear Father, however, when it comes to our neighbors, I will not brook any hint of it. The Bingley's are now one of the more important families here in Meryton, despite their unfortunate root in trade, and as such you need to speak to them with every affability required. Am I understood, my dear?"

Elizabeth swallowed lowly, before nodding her head.

"Of course, Mr. Collins. I shall endeavor to do so in the future." Mr. Collins' hand went to stroke her cheek-Elizabeth stepped backwards in avoidance, her back brushing the front entrance into Longbourn.

"Mr. Collins," she said, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her tone, "that is most improper." Mr. Collins countered her step backwards, with a forward step of his own. The space between them was becoming compressed, and, Elizabeth thought as she inhaled a shallow, ragged breath, there was nowhere else for her to go.

Silence descended, as Elizabeth fought the urge to flee, and Mr. Collins did as he wish-trailing a single finger down her cheek. He smiled as she tightened her jaw in an attempt to keep her flesh from reacting to his touch.

"Mr. Collins," she tried to protest quietly, not wanting her Mama or sisters to hear, but found herself unable to say another word. Mr. Collins gave her another one of his grins, before shushing her, and moving closer to her, encroaching the distance between them. Elizabeth could do nothing, would do nothing.

A sound was heard behind Mr. Collins, a feminine gasp, and all Elizabeth saw was a flash of Lydia's ribbons on her new bonnet, trailing around the corner.